What’s the point of holidaying in the UK when it’s very likely to rain? Tim Walters swaps the British downpours for a scorcher on the Costa Brava.

Staycation has been the buzz word of the summer. Endless articles and television programmes have given time to the benefits of taking a holiday in the UK or staying at home and having plenty of family days out.

In theory it sounds lovely and for many people struggling with the realities of the recession it is the only feasible option available to them.

But what the proponents of “staycation” seem to have conveniently forgotten are the vagaries of the British climate.

I seem to remember, back in April, that we were being promised a sweltering summer full of barbecues and picnics. And it’s true that there was a smattering of warm weather at the end of May and beginning of June.

At that point a “staycation” seemed like a cracking idea. But then the full horror of the weather kicked in. “Forget this” I thought and decided to find out what I could get as a last-minute deal to banish the memory of a soggy summer.

In reality I was a little sceptical that I’d find anything suitable with just a week before my scheduled time off but decided to put my trust in the staff at the Thomson shop in the Merry Hill Centre.

Usually I’m a bit of a miserable sod when dealing with travel agents but Nicola Illing (let’s give credit for good service) couldn’t have been more helpful.

And so it was that a week later I was marching down the steps from an aeroplane into sweltering heat having secured a deal on an all-inclusive holiday to the resort of Calella on the Costa Brava.

It’s an area that is enjoying something of a revitalisation being less than two hours flying time from the UK and cheaper than places like Egypt which came into vogue in the latter years of the 20th Century.

The Hotel Santa Monica had everything we needed – plenty of good food, copious quantities of drinks, both soft and alcoholic, clean and tidy rooms and was just a minute from a sandy beach that disappeared into the distance.

In short, it was perfect for what we wanted – and that weather! There was one day when the temperature dipped below 80 degrees, the rest was hot, hot sunshine all the way.

Now, I won’t pretend that the holiday didn’t cost more than it would have done to stay at home.

It would be quite easy to construct a week’s entertainment for a family of four taking in the likes of Alton Towers, Warwick Castle, the Black Country Living Museum, the National Sealife Centre and the West Midlands Safari Park.

Throw in food for a week including the odd meal out, petrol, gas and electricity and the gap in price is probably less than you might imagine.

And then there’s the weather – is it really possible to put a price on that?

While we were away there were headlines describing soggy Britain while news of a washout in the Third Test at Edgbaston brought a wry smile to the face.

Of course, it was inevitable that we should be greeted by plenty more rain on our return to this country but it’s a little easier to deal with having had that week in the sun.

Doubtless memories will be short next summer and there will be more talk of “staycation”. For me I think there’s every chance that I shall be revisiting Nicola at the Thomson shop in Merry Hill.